ISAF captures IMU weapons trafficker in northern Afghanistan

The International Security Assistance Force has reported the capture of an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan “facilitator and weapons trafficker” during an operation today in the Afghan province of Kunduz. This is the first reported operation targeting a member of the al Qaeda-linked IMU in almost a month.

A combined Afghan and Coalition force arrested the target, who was identified as an Afghan national of Uzbek descent, in the Chahar Darah district of Kunduz province, ISAF told The Long War Journal.

The unnamed facilitator “is believed to have financed the acquisition of weapons and coordinated their transfer and delivery to insurgents for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces,” according to the ISAF press release. One other suspected insurgent was also detained during the operation.

Kunduz an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan hotspot

The presence of IMU and al Qaeda cells has been detected in all seven of Kunduz’s districts: Aliabad, Archi, Chahar Darah, Imam Sahib, Khanabad, Kunduz, and Qal’ah-ye Zal, according to an investigation by The Long War Journal.

IMU operatives in particular are very active in Kunduz province and throughout northern Afghanistan, a study by The Long War Journal of ISAF raids targeting the group indicates. Special operations forces have conducted 34 raids against the IMU so far this year; 14 of those raids were in Kunduz province alone.

The last reported raid targeting an IMU member in Kunduz occurred nearly a month ago, on Oct. 10, and resulted in the capture of an IMU “financial facilitator.” Prior to that, “a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader and weapons facilitator” was detained on Oct. 2 in the same district as today’s raid, Chahar Darah. ISAF does not issue press releases for all of the raids that target the IMU, al Qaeda, or other foreign terror groups operating in Afghanistan.

Background on the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is a key ally of al Qaeda and the Taliban, and supports operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as plots attacks in Europe. The IMU is known to fight alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan and has integrated into the Taliban’s shadow government in the north. [For more information on the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, see LWJ report, IMU cleric urges Pakistanis to continue sheltering jihadis in Waziristan.]

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan fighters often serve as bodyguards for top Pakistani Taliban and al Qaeda leaders. The IMU fights alongside the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and has stepped up attacks in Central Asian countries as well. In September 2010, the IMU took credit for the Sept. 19 ambush that killed 25 Tajik troops, and also threatened to carry out further attacks in the Central Asian country.

The IMU has been a prime target of special operations forces in Afghanistan. So far this year, special operations forces have conducted at least 34 raids against the IMU; in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Faryab, Logar, Helmand, Kunduz, Takhar, and Wardak, or eight of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces; according to ISAF press releases compiled by The Long War Journal.

Adil is credited with increasing the IMU’s profile in Pakistan and Afghanistan after the death of Yuldashev, US intelligence officials have told The Long War Journal. Whereas Yuldashev had been content with confining the group’s operations largely to Pakistan’s tribal areas, Adil pushed to expand operations in northern and eastern Afghanistan, as well is in the Central Asian republics.

Patrick Megahan is a communications associate at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a contributor to The Long War Journal.